Dolphins' Jimmy Wilson among many reserves now thriving as starter

Third-year safety wasn't team's first choice to play nickel defensive back

December 13, 2013|By Chris Perkins

DAVIE – Dolphins safety Jimmy Wilson wasn’t the team’s first choice to be the nickel (fifth) defensive back in passing situations. He wasn’t the second choice, either.

But after cornerback Richard Marshall was cut during training camp, and cornerback Dimitri Patterson started battling a persistent groin injury, Wilson, who handled the duties much of last season, became the full-time nickel defensive back, covering the slot receiver.

Now, Wilson, the third-year player from Montana who has two interceptions this season, has become another in a long line of Dolphins reserves, along with players such as cornerback Nolan Carroll, guards Nate Garner and Sam Brenner, and tight end Charles Clay, who has thrived in his role as a starter.

“I’m just doing more prep during the week instead of trying to jam it in at the end of the week,” Wilson said, “being more professional about my job and my film work, my route combinations, my route studies. Our coaches put us in position to make plays. Me and the (other defensive backs) have been making the most of our opportunities.”

Wilson and his fellow defensive backs get their ultimate test of the season Sunday when they take on New England and quarterback Tom Brady. And, no, Wilson isn’t relaxing just because Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski (knee) is gone.

“It’s still going to be tough because they’ve got Tom Brady at the helm,” Wilson said. “Gronkowski is a Pro Bowl player, a major ‘X’ factor every week. I wish him the best. Without him we can focus more on some other areas.

“But even the guys they put in for him, they’re catching bombs now. They’re sending running backs up the seam. We’ve got to just stand up and play our defense, do what we need to do.”

Wilson has been doing that so far. Wilson isn’t performing at a Pro Bowl level. But Pro Football Focus has him rated 45th among cornerbacks (he’s rated as a cornerback because he primarily plays the nickel position), which is a respectable ranking. The Dolphins are happy with his performance.

“Jimmy Wilson has been playing real strong all year long at the nickel spot,” defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle said.

And Wilson, a seventh-round pick in 2011, has done that while continuing to thrive in his role as a special teams mainstay.

Last week against Pittsburgh he deflected a punt in the second quarter. It wasn’t ruled a blocked punt because the ball ended up at the line of scrimmage, not behind the line of scrimmage. Wilson already had two blocked punts in his young career. A third would tie him with safety Tim Foley for the all-time franchise lead, meaning Wilson would do in two-plus seasons what it took Foley 11 seasons to accomplish.

Wilson would love for the play to be officially reviewed so he could get credit for a blocked punt. But it doesn’t seem to be high on coach Joe Philbin’s priority list.

“Not at this second, I’m not overly concerned,” Philbin said dryly about Wilson’s possible franchise record.

Philbin’s preference would be to see Wilson maintain his high energy level.

“He’s not bashful on the football field,” Philbin said. “He’s a fun guy to have. On the sidelines he’s energetic, he’s positive, he’s into the game.”

And he’s one of the many reserves who has turned into a starter and helped keep the Dolphins in the playoff hunt.